Grand Theft Auto: The game’s creator fired us for trying to unionize

Former employees of the company behind Grand Theft Auto told the BBC that a “devastating” mass layoff occurred, allegedly because they tried to unionize.

Some 31 employees were fired in October for what Rockstar North called “serious misconduct.”

Most were based at the gambling giant’s Edinburgh headquarters, and former workers claimed they were penalized for discussing working conditions in a private online forum.

Rockstar North said it was incorrect to suggest the layoffs were related to union membership or activities. It said it took action after staff discussed sensitive information, including specific gameplay features of upcoming titles, in a public forum.

The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) called it a “ruthless act of union busting”.

Rockstar North is one of the UK’s largest game developers.

Their next game GTA 6 is expected to be one of the best-selling games of all time when it launches in November 2026.

Information about game development is tightly controlled throughout the gaming industry, and employees often sign legally binding agreements not to share confidential information.

A group of workers have been regularly protesting outside Rockstar North’s offices in Edinburgh and London.

BBC Scotland News has spoken to three of the sacked Edinburgh workers accused of revealing company information.

Jordan Garland, a former senior production coordinator, said many staff members wanted to unionize because “we were so passionate about the industry and that particular workplace.”

“We just saw it as something we could do to make things better for everyone,” he added.

“So it’s a little devastating because it’s an industry that I love and I think we all love it. We couldn’t really see ourselves anywhere else.”

He said staff members were discussing the company’s working conditions in a private digital forum.

Jordan added: “We were talking about working conditions, policies, not projects or anything like that, just conditions.

“To me that’s an essential and necessary part of organizing. How can you organize a workplace if you can’t talk about the conditions there?”

Jordan has worked at the company for 11 years and believes he was the first employee laid off on the morning of October 30.

“The first week was definitely difficult,” he said. “There were many sleepless nights, many tossing and turning about this.

“But in a macabre way, it’s good that they laid off so many people because there’s a really strong community element now.”

Designer Jamie Trimmer worked in the gaming industry for most of his adult life before being fired from Rockstar North.

“I’ve worked there for about 18 years,” he said. “I think I’m the longest-serving person who was fired.

“It’s all I really know, and then it’s just ripped away from me. I’m left not knowing what to do next.”

“I would never have expected them to go with the nuclear option of laying off so many of us at once. That highlights the need for unions.”

The group, along with other dismissed colleagues, now hope to take Rockstar North to an employment tribunal.

However, they may have to wait up to a year for their case to be heard.

In the meantime, they are waiting to hear if they qualify for an interim relief hearing, which could allow them to be reinstated to their duties or remain on Rockstar North’s payroll.

The issue was also raised at Prime Minister’s Questions at Westminster last week by MP Chris Murray.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was “deeply worrying” and promised to investigate the matter.

He added: “Every worker has the right to join a union and we are determined to strengthen workers’ rights and ensure they do not face unfair consequences for being part of a union.”

Fired production coordinator Sarah Blackburn said public and political support has helped her deal with the situation.

“It’s tremendously encouraging to hear this and in some ways I would say it’s validating,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of support coming from places I really didn’t expect.

“We’ve had people who were in unions who previously fought in different industries basically just expressing solidarity and support. It’s a show of power and it’s been painful to be on this side, but I think the support has been great.”

In a statement, Rockstar North told BBC Scotland News: “Rockstar Games has taken action against a small group of people, across the UK and internationally, who distributed and discussed confidential information (including specific game features of upcoming and unannounced titles) in a public forum, in breach of company policy and its legal obligations.

“Claims that these dismissals were related to union membership or activities are completely false and misleading.”